The potential effects on Silsden traders from the town’s planned new Tesco supermarket must be fully explored, says a councillor. Coun Andrew Mallinson has added his weight to calls for a retail impact assessment to be carried out before Bradford Council debates the plan.

Coun Mallinson, who represents Craven Ward on Bradford Council, said: “Tesco is forced to have an impact on shops such as butchers, bakers and newsagents. If the negative impact is on stores in the town, then the town centre may no longer be the focal point of Silsden.”

Coun Mallinson accepted that Tesco had already researched current “leakage” from Silsden – the amount of money lost to the town as residents did their weekly food shopping in other areas. But he said that just as important as this figure, estimated at £10 million, was how much money Silsden traders would lose to the town’s own Tesco.